I have been an artist and photographer for several years, carving my career and funding exhibitions as and when I have been able to do so. It has been a struggle to manage projects, raise funding and negotiate contracts. This is the same burden that all artists and creatives have when organising their first exhibition in the hope of being recognised and the exhileration of selling their first piece of work.

My aim with this campaign is to secure a permanent residence for artists to exhibit in the Sydney area. I am currently looking at leases and fit outs in the inner west areas of Sydney to open this business. The space will compromise of a fixed rotating exhibition, free exhibition space and photographic studio.

I will be the artist in residence carrying out all the daily operations with a permanent rotating exhibition space and will offer new and emerging artists free space and advertising to showcase their work. There will also be a functional photographic space which artists and visitors can use. New artists can be Australian or visiting from abroad, wanting to gain exposure in Sydney to further their career. So if you are from Europe, America or Asia and wish to add to your resume of work and exhibitions, you will be able to use the space to do so.

Most Exhibition spaces charge new artists a fee to rent space in a gallery, this can typically range from $300-$2000, they are also required to pay 30-40% of sales, this is not my aim with this venture. I will ensure the financial running of the gallery through my own art and photography and through a smaller commission on sales 25% from exhibitions.

In funding this project you will give Australian and visiting creatives the opportunity to showcase their work to the public and get a foot in the door.

Many artists are from disadvantaged backgrounds or suffer from mental or physical disabilities. Their creativity is their form of self expression and often depicts their view of the world around them which can be wonderfull, confrontational, vibrant and unique.

The money raised will go towards securing a long term lease on an appropriate property and a complete professional fittout to create a stunning new gallery space in Sydney. I will keep adding to this page over the following weeks and months as I explore suitable properties and ideas.

The Aim is to raise $50000 which will establish the Gallery and ensure its gets a head start plus the marketing/advertising it needs in the early days. We hope through your generosity to exceed and double this amount but If the total is not raised a smaller venue may have to be leased or the alternative of pop up gallery/exhibitions may have to be explored.

If you love photography, art or sculpture please contribute what you can, if your in a position to help with free advertising, marketing etc please support my campaign.

You can contact me at www.matthewlees.com

This is a Layout of the space I have in mind. Excellent street frontage and facilities, New artists get to exhibit their work at the front of the gallery on four 3 metre long rails and two easels. The photography studio is 2.1m wide by 5m long ideal for all sorts of photo shoots.

Please contribute generously.

Matt